Unless you own a Malamute or Husky, or unless you live in Alaska or in the Arctic, your dog is probably not able to live in extreme winter weather conditions. This being said, if you have an outdoor dog you need to be aware of temperatures when they dip below Zero degrees fahrenheit. In order to make sure that your dog is safe, you need to set up an area for your outdoor dog that is inside and out of the wind, ice and snow. Since your outdoor dog is accumulated to colder temperatures you could put a kennel or travel crate in your basement for those really cool days and nights. If this is not an option, you need to set up an area in an enclosed building or your garage. Just make sure it has “some” ventilation but is out of the wind. Normally an inclosed garage or barn can be 5-15 degrees warmer than the outside temperatures as long as the doors are closed to the outside air. You can also add straw, hay or old blankets to the area or crate to aid in keeping your dog’s warmth next to your dog. Avoid using a forced air heater that is pointed directly at the dog. If you use a heater it should warm the area, not just the dog.

Don’t fool yourself into thinking that a dog house with some straw in it is a perfect winter weather haven! It’s NOT!!! The reason that this is not true is that often these structures are no warmer than the outside because they don’t block enough of the cold. One way to check if your dog’s cold weather hideaway is warm enough is to get in it with a light jacket or sweatshirt on and see if it provides you with adequate shelter from the cold and wind.

If your dog is going to be outside and has access to a warm, dry shelter, it is also important to make sure that it has drinking water that isn’t frozen. It’s food should be covered as well. Most importantly, don’t neglect to spend time with your outdoor dog just because it’s cold outside. Remember, your dog needs to know that you are there and that you care. OK, now let’s talk about your inside dog!I know that your dog looks cute when it is all dressed up in it’s little coat and booties, but you really need to resist the temptation to outfit your dog with a “winter wardrobe” before it gets really cold. Your dog was born with a fur coat for a reason. That natural coat will keep it warm well below freezing as long as it is not exposed to wet conditions or the cold temperatures for long periods of time.

Neka loved the cold. She looked forward to going out and laying in the snow.

Dog clothing and accessories are more enjoyable to pet owners than they are to pets who must wear them. In some cases they actually distress the pet. We have to make sure that the clothing actually meets the dog’s needs, not our own. Dog dresser-uppers must make sure that the clothing they buy is not tight. If it is to tight it will actually cause the dog to become chilled instead of doing what it was actually designed to do. It should also not be pulling the dog’s fur, impede natural movement, or block openings for elimination.

Next, have you ever gone into your bathroom on a cold morning and wished that the seat had a heater? What do you think your dog is thinking when you open the back door to let it out during the winter? To make your dog’s outdoor experience more pleasant during the winter months try clearing the area where your dog regularly goes to the bathroom. Remove snow and ice from the area and create a path to this area. This will do several things. It will help aid your house training by keeping the dog’s routine as consistent as possible. It will also keep your dog warmer and drier because it won’t have to walk in deep snow, and it will reduce the amount of snow tracked into your home.

Inside, make sure that your dog has a warm, dry and comfortable place to sleep. Make sure that it is free of cold drafts. This can be done is several ways. You can just lay a blanket on the floor in a warm place or you can spend a few dollars on a bed designed to fit your dog. The cost of these beds can range widely so shop around and get the right bed for your dog’s needs. I also suggest that you keep an old towel by the door to dry off your dog’s paws and belly after it goes outside. This will keep the dog’s coat clean and dry.

Play with your dog more in the winter. When winter weather makes it hard to get out and do things, your dog is just as bored as you are! It’s very easy for us as humans to “veg-out” when the cold weather gets here. And we adjust to this reasonably easily. Dogs do not adjust nearly as easy! A lot of us pet owners are less likely to take the dog on walks or to the dog park for exercise so this means that your dog is going to be looking for something to do to stay busy. If you don’t play with your dog, your dog will start to look for things to do. And trust me, you may not like what it finds to do.

Taking regular daily breaks to play with your dog will provide necessary exercise and mental stimulation to keep your dog healthy and happy. It also offers some human benefits as well. Playing with your dog reduced stress and blood pressure and can also alter your mood. I use the winter months to reinforce training and to work on all of the tricks and commands that I have taught my dog over the years. We also use the time to learn a few new tricks every winter.

No matter whether your dog is an inside dog or an outside dog, winter feeding recommendations for your pet may change too. If your dog is going to be outside it should have a food that is higher in fat because your dog burns fat to stay warm. Always check with your vet to make sure that your pet’s food is the right one for your dog’s needs. Also make sure that you aren’t over or under feeding during the winter months.

Since your dog relies on a warm coat when it goes outside we advise that you skip going to the groomer and avoid unnecessary bathing in the winter months. Many vets recommend not bathing your dog more frequently than every 6 to 8 weeks to allow the natural skin oils to replenish. So plan your last bathing session for mid November and hold off with the bathing until it warms back up. There are a lot of great “dry” shampoos that you can use through the winter months if you must bath your dog. You can also wipe down the dog with a damp cloth rather than submerging it in water. Try to skip a mid-winter grooming appointment altogether or just ask for a trim instead of a full cut.

With the current cold snap pushing in on the Midwest and Eastern United States it is very important that you watch your Dogs and other pets very closely so that they don’t become sick from overexposure to the elements.

Cold weather can be just as hard on pets as is it on people. Sometimes pet owners forget that indoor pets are just as acclimated to the indoors as they are. Some owners leave their pets outside for extended periods of time thinking that all animals can adapt to the outdoors because they have a natural fir coat. This kind of thinking can put their pets in extreme danger of serious illness and even death.

It’s true that some pets can remain outside longer in the winter time than others can. But this is NOT true for all pets! Use your common sense: long-haired breeds like Huskies and German Shepherds will do better in cold weather than short-haired breeds like Dachshunds and Dalmatians. Small dogs that have to wade through the deep snow will feel the cold sooner than larger animals.

Your pet’s overall health will also affect how long it can stay out. Diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, and hormonal imbalances can compromise your pet’s ability to regulate body heat. If your pet is not generally in good health, it should not be exposed to long periods of winter weather. Only allow them to be out long enough to do their “business” and bring them back inside. Very young and very old pets are susceptible to illness during the cold months as well.

An average sized dog in normal health can feel the effects of the cold weather in as little as 10 minutes. When there are severe weather conditions that time can be easily cut in half. Frostbite can occur on a dog’s paws and noise in just a few minutes when wind chills reach below -10 degrees.

While it is very true that not all dogs get along with each other, most actually do! After all, dogs are basically very social animals. But just like humans, there is always that possibility that there can be a conflict of personalities between dogs. It’s not necessarily a German Shepherd vs. Doberman thing, or even a Pit-bull vs. Pit-bull thing. It’s usually just a difference in energy levels, amount of socialization or a resource guarding issue.

Because of this it is the dog owner’s duty to make sure that their dog has proper leadership and is always under their complete control. It is also important that the owner doesn’t try to force a meeting if either of the dogs is not in a completely calm state of mind.

When less social dogs are in public they need to be given every possible chance to interact with other dogs and humans. This is a great way to desensitize them. But interaction should only be done in a controlled environment with the help of a trained professional. It’s not something that should be done in passing on a public sidewalk. This is how people and dogs get hurt!

As a responsible dog owner you must be able to read the signs and the body language of both, your dog and any approaching dog you cross paths with. If you see that your dog is getting over excited, distressed, or even aggressive you need to remove it from what ever is causing the problem. That means stop advancing, turn away, or make whatever correction it takes to calm the dog. You also need to let the other person know that something is wrong, and they need to stop too. It is NOT rude to do this. Most owners will actually appreciate it.

I can’t tell you the amount of times I’ve heard, “Oh, It’s OK … My Dog is REALLY a Very Friendly Dog!” To which I usually think to myself, “Sure it is …that’s why it’s barking, growling and trying to bite through his leash!” Frankly, this person is either: A). an owner that is in denial, B). doesn’t know any better or C). just lacks proper leadership skills. Unfortunately, it’s up to you to figure out which of the three it is.

When I’m out in public with my dog, or with a dog I’m working, I am relaxed and in the moment. And we usually have a great time on our walks. But I’m also very aware of what’s happening around me. I’m always scanning the area to see if there are any possible issues that I may need to address. With my dog, we are currently working on her pray drive. When she sees something move, she gets very excited and wants to give chase! So you can imagine what she is like when we meet another dog! But she is learning that she has to remain calm or she doesn’t get to meet them.

Many loving families share their lives with dogs. Some choose (for a variety of reasons) not to socialize their dog with other dogs or humans. We should be very careful NOT to judge them for this. A lot of times, there are some good reasons for it. Here are a few for you to think about.

The dog is going through service dog training

The dog has injuries or a painful physical condition

The dog is intolerant toward other animals

The dog is recovering from surgery

The dog suffers from uncontrollable fear or an anxiety disorder

The dog is elderly and frail

The dog is owned by someone that want to be left alone

The dog is used as a personal protection animal

The owner is in a hurry and doesn’t have time to stop and talk

These dogs have every right to be out in public without having to interact with humans or other canines. When you come in contact with someone walking his or her dog, be sure to ask if it’s OK to interact. I do it all of the time, and no one has ever had a problem with it.

I have a lady in my neighborhood with an American Pit Bull Terrier that has had a very tough past. It is very aggressive toward other dogs, but is very sweet with humans. On occasion I find myself walking down the same section of street with them. We spoke in passing several months ago and she told me the story of her dog. So, now when I cross paths with her, I move to the far side of the street and make my dog sit as quietly as possible until they pass. This serves two purposes. She and her dog don’t feel pressured to interact, and her dog learns that not all dogs are out to get her. Over the past few months I’ve seen a marked improvement in the dog’s reaction to my dog.

It is very important that we give other dogs and owners some space. We need to learn that imposing ourselves on other dogs and owners is not always good for the dogs. Well meaning dog owners need to ask if it’s OK for them to meet, NOT insist on meeting them. It’s all about showing respect and realizing that we don’t always know what’s best. After all, we don’t always know the full story behind the other person and their dog.

Today was a particularly rough day! Nothing went right … well except that it finally ended.

My Best Friend Patchs

I’m sure we’ve all had them. I’m not saying that I’m the only one who has a bad day! But I did find a way to beat it. So, that’s why I’m sharing this with you.

I totally stressed. My deadline is only a day away, and I’m sure that I’m not going to make it! Then it happened!

I was reminded about de-stressing and shown what is really important in life by, none other than, my dog.

At the height of frustration, she crossed the room, walked over to me, and sat down next to my chair. Then she looked up at me and gave me a tiny little whine. You know, the wine that says: You need a break, and you haven’t payed any attention to me in hours. And the one that says: I can help! You just need to come down on the floor and play with me for a while. Then finally: I’m not going away! You are going to have to come down and play!

The funny thing is, It turns out that she knew exactly what I needed. It took just a few minutes and I had forgotten all about what was bothering me. I was calmed down, and we were having a great time playing with her toys.

She had once again shown me, what every dog I’ve ever had has shown me at least a dozen times over the years. And that is: that nothing is THAT big of a deal! You have to live in the moment and go with the flow! She showed me in just a few brief moments that the only important thing is what you are doing right at that moment.

Then it came to me. The Dog’s Code of Life!
Which is: If you can’t play with it, eat it, or chase it … piss on it … and move on!

Blogroll

What Dogs Really Think!

During break time at obedience school, two dogs were talking.
One dog said to the other ..."The thing I hate about obedience school is you have to learn ALL this stuff that you will never use in the real world."